A Historical Moment in Time

On September 19-20, 2013 the Toni Morrison Society celebrated its 20th anniversary and Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize in Literature in Oberlin, Ohio. The Inaugural Toni Morrison Society Lecture, “ A Conversation to Have at Home: [Dis] Placing Respectability’s Visual Politics in Jazz” was delivered by Dr. Herman Beavers, University of Pennsylvania in Finney Chapel and the weekend concluded with a fantastic reading by Morrison and the 20th Anniversary Reception and Gala. Morrison’s charm and down to earth writing advice had the full attention of everyone sitting in the sold out event in Finney Chapel. She encouraged writers to figure out the best time for them to write. “I am the smartest in the morning.” Morrison said. It made me ask myself when am I the smartest? The answer: before my children were school age, it was late at night and now it has turned to early in the morning. By 8pm, I’m exhausted. Morrison emphasized the importance of creating a writing space. I am my best in silence, I need to hear myself think, I need to hear what my characters are saying. Sometimes, I listen to music to put me in a certain mood to write or I listen to music from a particular era I am writing about to create a specific scene. In general, I am in awe with what women accomplish while raising their families. I often ask myself how Morrison was able to accomplish all that she did raising her two sons. She gives me hope that I can do it too.

I stand up for Toni Morrison during Banned Books Week and always. Given the most recent controversy about The Bluest Eye from Ohio Board of Education President Debe Terhar, I thought it would be a nice reminder to read and study Morrison’s works.

Many of you will recall that Pages Matam wrote a poem for my upcoming book and it evolved into the Crying Girl Book Trailer. PAGES is traveling as the representative for the DC Metro area on behalf of The Beltway Poetry Slam Team. Help PAGES go cross-country where he will go through many rounds of competition to possibly become the United States representative to compete in the World Cup of Poetry in Paris, France.

Help support and get Pages to Spokane by also purchasing merchandise available:

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Trice Hickman is a self-proclaimed Southern girl, and award-winning, bestselling author. Trice’s love of reading and the power she recognized in the written word inspired her to become a writer. After receiving rejections from every agent and publisher she submitted her work to, Trice was determined to bring her stories to life. She self-published her first three novels to great success, and shortly thereafter, she landed a multi-book deal with Kensington (Dafina Books) where she’s currently working on her next novel. In her spare time Trice enjoys cooking, traveling, decorating, and meeting good people. Learn more about Trice at www.tricehickman.com.

Advice for Aspiring Authors

"First and foremost, don't give up. This is a tough business and you will need confidence, stamina, discipline, and determination to be successful. Learn all you can about writing and the book world, and never rely on others to show you the ropes. Network as much as you can with meaningful face-to-face interactions. Social media is great, but nothing compares to the human element. And lastly, don't be afraid to try new things."

Connect with Trice:

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Cerece Rennie Murphy lives and writes just outside of her hometown, Washington, DC. In addition to completing the Order of the Seers trilogy, Cerece is also developing a children’s book series titled Enchanted: 5 Tales of Magic in the Everyday and a book on understanding marriage/relationship advice for single women entitled More Than the Ring. To learn more about the author and her upcoming projects, visit www.crmurphybooks.com.

Advice for Aspiring Authors

I give the same piece of advice that Trice Hickman gave to me when I was starting out:'Believe in your story.' There will be many highs and lows along your journey to tell and share your story. The one thing that has gotten me through each trial is my belief in the characters in my book and their journey. I knew they deserved my best efforts and that belief moved me forward when fear and doubt wanted to shut me down.

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Sandra Bowman a.k.a B. Swangin Webster is the author of two published novels, Let Me Just Say This and its sequel And Again…Let Me Say This. Currently, she is working on a murder/mystery The Stiletto Stalker and also The Teacher’s Lounge. When she is not writing, Sandra (as she is commonly referred to) can be seen at her local middle school getting to know the students or at the offices of Intrigue Publishing, where she is the Director of Marketing.

Advice for Aspiring Authors

"Never assume you know it all. Just like doctors, writers need to continue to get better at writing which means going to events to be around other authors. Conferences, workshops and book launch parties not only support authors but help to gain experience from the best."

My condolences and prayers go out to the families and colleagues affected by the shooting at the Navy Yard on September 16, 2013. I was stuck in traffic only miles away from the area because a U-Haul truck flipped over the median on the Baltimore Washington Parkway. I had family and friends who were on lockdown during this event and I am thankful that they are safe. When something like this happens in close proximity, it gives a quick reality check that anything can happen at any time. I pray for people battling mental illness and sympathy fatigue. The world is calling on our humanity to heal itself and to love. I pray for those who for one reason or the other did not make it into work yesterday and were hit with the reminder of their mortality. A big thanks to Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Rescue workers. Prayers for a speedy recovery for the victims still in the hospital. May you find comfort in knowing that not only Washington, DC, but the country is with you. Feel free to share words of encouragement and condolences here:

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Renee Daniel Flagler is an award-winning freelance journalist, and the author of four novels, Mountain High Valley Low, Miss-Guided, In Her Mind and Raging Blue. She is the new resident relationship expert on Real Talk with Deborah Rhodes Pettigrew, which airs Sunday mornings on Rejoice 102, Power 92, and Soul 106.3 in the Chicago metro area. She teaches creative writing to alternative populations and students in K-12 throughout New York City and Nassau County public schools. Renee is currently at work on her next release, Still Raging, the highly anticipated sequel to Raging Blue,and her first nonfiction work, The Relationship Survival Guide.

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Bio: Norwood Holland is a freelance writer, lawyer, and author of the Drew Smith legal thriller series based on the capers of an urban trial attorney. He is a graduate of Howard University School of Law with a bachelor’s degree in English from Fisk University where he studied under the renowned Harlem Renaissance author Arna Bontemps. Holland favors D.C.'s local color in his fiction and currently writes the blog editorialindependence.com devoted to promoting independent authors among other things.

Advice for Aspiring Authors

"Every genre has its own structure, study yours, and above all master the first rule of fiction "show don't tell."

Black Authors & Readers Rock Feature

Bio: Pamela D. Beverly, a Maryland resident and hard-working public servant for the federal government, can now add the title author to her list of accomplishments. Her recently published debut novel, Relations, won an Honorable Mention at the 2013 New York Book Festival in the Romance category.

Advice for Aspiring Authors

"Do not give up. There isn't any gimmick to it. Don't worry about what is trendy; just write from the heart. It will shine through."